The town of Weymouth and members of the law enforcement community are mourning the shooting deaths of a fallen officer and an innocent bystander.
The incident began when the suspect, identified as Emanuel Lopes, fled the scene of a single car accident. Officer Michael Chesna responded, and found the suspect vandalizing a nearby home according to Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Greg Connor. He says Chesna drew his weapon and ordered Lopes to stop.
"Lopes then attacked Officer Chesna, it is believed with a large stone, striking him in the head, and Officer Chesna fell to the ground," said Connor. "Lopes then retreived Officer Chesna's firearm and discharged it several times in his head and chest."
Responding officers opened fire, striking Lopes in the leg, Connor added.
Lopes fired three more times with Chesna's weapon, and a woman was shot and killed in her home.
Weymouth police chief Richard Grimes hired Chesna, an Army veteran, exactly six years ago Monday.
"He was just a great family man," said Grimes. "He was a great officer. I would see him coming in from the street and he always had a kind word and a good attitude."
Chesna, who was 42, leaves behind his wife and two young children, ages four and nine.
Correction: This article originally misidentified the date of Chesna's six-year anniversary with the Weymouth Police Department and has since been corrected.
